It's not like there weren't enough cool wedding venues in South Florida already, but adding another one to the list never hurts. There are plenty of Bridezillas out there. And this one, the new Thalatta Estate Park in Palmetto Bay, is sure to become among the most popular in South Florida, maybe just a notch below Vizcaya Mansion and Deering Estate, but also on a priceless piece of land on the water.
The park is located at 17301 Old Cutler Road, right on Biscayne Bay, and nestled between Deering Estate (directly to the north) and the Palmetto Bay Branch Library (a couple of lot's to the south). Check out the spot of many future nuptials on Sunday during a grand opening celebration starting at 11 a.m. The party will double as a dress rehearsal for visitors to see what the park looks like during weddings and special events. Read on for more details and pictures of this cool park.
Cultist drives by what the property every day on our way home, and we often dreamed of having access to the multi-million dollar property. Those dreams came true when we saw the park sign go up and we drove straight in and started poking around. We walked halfway to the bay before security stopped us. The park hadn't officially opened yet. But we saw enough to realize that the park will be a welcome respite from urban life.
As much as the park is beautiful, it's not exactly what they call an active park. Don't expect basketball hoops or tot lots anytime soon. Palmetto Bay spent plenty of money renovating the main house (which won't open just yet) and Carriage House, which was renovated with a prep kitchen for catering companies, but is pushing the site for special events like weddings, quinceaneras, bar mitzvahs, and other celebrations. Other features include a second floor bridal suite, reflecting pool, and a gazebo out by the bay.
"We're still tinkering with the hours and days. We want a balance between meeting the enthusiasm of the community and having it serve as events venue," says Bill Kress, Palmetto Bay's information officer. Even though the park hasn't yet opened, he says they already have bookings. Kress said he could foresee the venue hosting events on most Saturdays and being open to the public on most Sundays, with the regular week days split between the two.
Though most people have never heard of read much about Thalatta, many have seen the property even if they didn't know it. A famous image that circulated across the country and world after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 was taken at the property when a tugboat washed up on what would now be the park's landscaped grounds. Check out the photo below.
The Thalatta Estate Park (17301 Old Cutler Rd., Palmetto Bay) grand opening celebration takes place 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. Refreshments will be served. For more information visit http://www.palmettobay-fl.gov/ or call 305-259-1234.
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